The Kinderhook Plates

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Summary:

Joseph Smith translated a portion of what was later determined to be a forged artifact. It wasn't until 1980 that the plates were determined to be a hoax. After discovering the artifact near a skeleton the prophet stated:

I have translated a portion of [the plates] and find they contain the history of the person with whom they were found. He was a descendant of Ham, through the loins of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom from the ruler of heaven and earth. 


For a long time only reproductions of the plates were available as the original artifact was lost. The plates were later rediscovered in Chicago and scientifically analyzed.  They turned out to be made by one of Joseph Smith's contemporaries in an effort to trick the prophet.

Why this matters:

  • The Kinderhook plates were a hoax.
  • Joseph Smith, the prophet and seer, could not tell it was a hoax
  • Joseph gave an overview of what the inscriptions meant, even though they were meaningless
  • It seems improbable that the story that would have emerged if a full translation had taken place would be related to the Book of Mormon. However the translation seemed to reinforce the book of Mormon.

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Orrin Porter Rockwell